Cotton picker with automatic positioning means



C. MATTHEWS, JR

Feb. 28, 1961 COTTON PICKER WITH AUTOMATIC POSITIONING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 15, 1958 INVENTOR. Clem Matthews J1:

Attorneys Feb. 28, 1961 c MATTHEWS, JR 2,972,847

COTTON PICKER WITH AUTOMATIC POSITIONING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 15, 1958 INVEN TOR. Clem Matthews Jr:

'Fig.4 I I9 I Attorneys United States Patent F COTTON PICKER WITH AUTOMATIC POSITIONENG MEANS Clem Matthews, .lr., Po. Box 41, Firebaug'h, Calif.

' Filed Sept. 15, 1958, Ser. No. 761,001

6 Claims. c1. 56- 11) This invention relates to mechanical cotton pickers and more particularly to automatic positioning means for the picker mechanisms of cotton pickers.

Conventional cotton pickers are provided with a manually operated control for raising and lowering the picker mechanism. With such a manual control, it has been found to be very difiicult to operate the control to the position of the picker mechanismso that it is always in optimum picking position. This is particularly true where two row cotton pickers are utilized. Attempts have been made to solve the problem of properly raising and lowering the picker mechanism in Patents No. 2,674,075 and 2,700,857. However, such devices have not been completely satisfactory. They are quite complicated and are diflicult to keep in adjustment. In particular, it has been found that excess pressure is often placed on the ground traversing'shoes or plant lifters because of the cable mechanisms utilized in the devices.

In general, it is the object of this invention toprovide automatic positioning means for a cotton picker which overcomes the above named disadvantages. 7 Another object of the invention is to-provide automatic positioning means of the above character which. serves to automatically raise and lower the picker mechanism to maintain it in optimum picking position.

1 Another object of the invention is. to provide automatic positioning'means of the above character which amplifies operation of the cotton picker. 1 1 Another object of the invention is to provide automatic positioning meanspf the above character'which does not interfere with the conventional manual control for the. cotton picker. i a

. Another object -of the invention is to provide auto- I matic positioning means ofthe above characteriwhich proyidesr'either automatic ormanualcontrol, Another;objectoftheinventionis'to provide automatic positioning means of theabove. character. which can be placed in autom aticv or .manual control :by the operation Qfiasingle'control lever.

;,:Anotherfobject of the' invention providewutomatic positioning meanswhich 'providespositive' action... f 1 Anotherobject of the invention is to provide automatic positioning means of-th,e' iabove'character which eliminates the, use of complicated, linkages and otherwise simplifies Anotherflobjec tj of theinvenitionis; to automatic positioning means :of the-above character which .ticularly sadapted fortwo-rowcotton pickers. 1 Additional objects and features of the invention will is parappear from "the preferred iembotiirnent'which is shown indetail in the accompanying drawings.

n Referringto the drawing:

2,972,847 Patented Feb. 28, 1961 ice Figure 2 is a top plan view looking along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged front elevational view looking along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic system.

In general the present invention consists of automatic positioning means for raising and lowering the picker mechanism to maintain the picker mechanism in optimum picking position. A control valve is connected in the hydraulic system and is mounted on the front of the picker mechanism. The control valve is actuated by movement of the ground traversing plant lifters'so that the picker mechanism is automatically positioned in accordance with the terrain encountered by the plant lifters.

As shown in the drawing, the conventional cotton picker includes one or more picker-mechanism lldepending upon whether or not the cotton picker is a single'row or a two row cotton picker. Normally one picker mechanism is provided for each row. The picker mechanism as shown particularly in Patent No. 2,700,857 is normally mounted on a vehicle (not shown) for moving the picker mechanism over the cotton plants for removing the bolls of cotton. The picker mechanism is mounted on the vehicle for vertical movement with respect to the vehicle so that it can be placed in optimum picking position with respect to the cotton plants and the ground being traversed.

Suitable means 12 is provided for each of the picker mechanisms to vertically move the picker mechanism and consists of an L-shaped crank arm 13 which is pivoted at 14. One end of the arm is pivotally connected to the picker mechanism at 16 and the other end is connected to a plunger 18 of a single acting hydraulic ram 19. As hydraulic fluid is forced into the" ram 19, the picker mechanism 11 israised and when fiuid is released from the hydraulic ram E9, the picker mechanism is because of the weight of the picker mechanism. g I 'The picker mechanism 11 is substantially conventional and for that reason will not be described in detail. Ground traversing means 211 in the form of a pair of plant lifters 22 and 23 are mounted on each of the picker mechanisms for movement vertically of the picker mechanisms. Such plant lifters are normally providedtp. lift the lower most branches of the cotton plant preparatory to ,the picking operationby the pickermechanism 1 1. However, these plant lifters 22 and 23 in the present picker mechanism by a parallelogram assembly ar type well known'tothose skilled in the art to ,p'ermitsubstantially. rectilinear movement of the plant lifters; Each of the plant liftersis .provideclwith a shoe 26 whichis adapted toengagearid slide overthe ground. PIantJifter 'Figurej 1 is a side elevational view with certain portions 'e'ro eagawa and with certain portions shown meme;

contour of the soil. This-counterbalancing also ser'ves prevent the plantllifters' from digging into the soil.

,H'Afront mountingplate sliis provided ou jchof' drawing rods 27 are secured tojeah bf the plantlifters 22 and .23

andex'tend forward of the picker mechanism. They slide over; theiglOLlIld and serve to gauge: the contouror 'soil elevati'pn oven whichythe picker mechalnisrn will, pass. A spring 28 is provided with each ofthe plant lifters 22 and 23 to counterbalance the weight ofthe plant lifter, so that the plant lifters will be more responsive 'to-changesfin to The st ucture thusfar described is sub antially-c on-i;

ventional andco'nstitutes an operational envifohment with which the automatic positioning me'ansof the present invention functions:

vpicker. mechanisms 11 and can ,;be mounted thereo "anysuitablemanner such as by bpltsfizasshown'in lowered nism' in the manner hereinbeforedescribed.

intof'clevises 42 and 43; .The clevises 42 and 43 are pivotally connected to arms 44 and 46 whichare mounted on and rotate with rods 47 and 48. The rod. 47 is rotatably mounted in bearings 49 and'Sl and the rod 48 is rotatably mounted in a bearing 52. The opposite ends.

of the' rods 47 and 48 are provided with arms53 and 54 which are pivotallyconnected to connecting linkages 56 which s'erve'to connect the arms 53 -a nd 54'to the plant lifters. 22 and 23. 1 I 1 Each of the" connecting mechanisms is substantially identical and consists of a connecting rod 57 which is v provided with a tubular portion 58 in'whichone end of a rod 59, pivo-tal ly connected to the'associated plant litter, is adapted to reciprocate. 'A spring '61 is mounted on the rod 59 between the tubular'portion 53 and a collar 62 and-normally serves to urge the rod 59 out of the tubular member 58 and to urge the plant lifter downwardly. By adjusting the position of the collar 62, the effective length of the rod 59 canbe'increased or decreased. When the rod 59 is lengthened the clearance of the picker mechanism with respect to-the ground will be increased and when the rod 59 is shortened the'conver'se will be true. 1

Additional means is provided for positively urging the automatic control valve'33 to one position and also at the same time to urge the plant lifters into a ground engaging position. Such means as shown consists of a spring 63 which has one end connectedto the lever 36 at 64 and has the other end connected to the front mounting plate 31 through a projection 66. A nut 67 is provided for adjusting the tension on the spring 63 to regulate the pressure exerted by the plant soil. I

- Although only one picker mechanism of the two row cotton picker has been shown and described the other pickermechanisms' and the associated control means is identical to that hereinbefore described.

The hydraulic system utilized is 'draulic rambeing for the right picker mechanism and lifters against the surface of the shown in schematic form in Figurel. The two picker mechanisms 11 ot'the cotton picker are adapted to be raised and lowere'dby the two hydraulic: r am s1 9 shown in Figure 4, the upper hy-- the picker mechanisms will be under the control of-the 97 by piping 98. One leg of the T is connected to the hydraulic ram 19 for the right hand picker mechanism of the cotton picker by piping 99. The section 77 of the dual control valve 74 is'al'so "connected to the return piping 91 by the piping 1 01 v 1 The automatic control valves 33 consist of valve mem bers 162 which are provided with ports 103,104 and.

1%. The valve 33' for the left hand picker mechanism is connected to the T. 86 by pipinggltl6. The left hand valve 33 is connected to the right hand valve by piping 197. The left hand valve is connected to one side of a one-way check valve 110 by piping 10S and the other side of the check valve 110 is connected to one of the legs of the T72 by piping 109.

The right hand valve 33 is connected to one of the legs of the T 97 by piping 11].. his also connected to the control valve 89 by piping 112. The dual control valve 39 is connected to a T 113 in the line 92 by piping 114. s A description of the operation of my automatic positioning means for the. cotton picker mechanisms of a two row cotton picker may now be briefly described as follows: .To facilitate the operation of thecottonpicken let the control valve 74 be called the manual control valve, the valvesi33 be called the automatic control valve and the control valve' 89 be called the manual to automatic control valve. Let it .beassumcd that all of the valves are in the positions shown infthe drawing. shown the manual to automatic control valve 89 is in'the manual position and therefore theraising and lowering of operating levers-8110f the dual :control: valve 74. :With

the lower hydraulic ram being for the left'piclcer mechanism; Two automatic control valves 33 arealso provided,"

eachfof'which is mounted onth'e associated. picker mecha- The hydraulic system: also incl des atank valve 69 andv piping 71. The pump .68 is also connected i s a T '72 by piping 73.; One leg of the-T72 is" co r 1hected to amanually controlled dual control valve 74 consisting I 2 .of sections76 and- 77 by piping78.': Each Of'the sections 7:6 and 77 is provided with avalve member 79 which is adaptedito be moved'hy'an operating handle sl The i -valves as'shown in schematic formiare provided with,

ports'82, SSand'S i-in'the' valvem emberl "Section 76 of theidual valve 74 is connected to 'a T 86 by piping I h p or resents 66 which is connected by piping-67 to a pumplfiS, The

; pump 68 is connected to the reservoir 66 through a relief. s

the operating levers 81 in the position shown, fluid will be pumped by the pump 68 through. the piping '73 and the piping78 into both sections of the control valve 74 after which-itrwill pass through the ports. 84, through the return piping 91-throughthe port 96 otthe manual automatic control valve 89 to the reservoir/66.

If the operating'lever 81 of the section 76'is vmoved to the right as viewed-in Figure 4, port T82iwill'place the piping '78 and 87 in communication so that hydraulic fluid under pressure will be forced into the'hydraulic ram 19 to raise the picker mechanism 11 connectedthereto; Raising of the picker mechanism will be continued until the uppermost position of the picker mechanismihas been reached: or until the'operating lever 81;is moved to terminate the connection of port 82 with the' piping 78 and 87. 50

If it is nowde'sired' to lower thepicke'r'mechanism, the ioperating l'ever iil of the section .76 is moved to the left "as viewed in Figure, 4 'an'd'thereturn piping 91 is placed in communication with' thepipe 87' to' release the hydraulic fluid under pressure from-the 'hydraulidrarn 19 ing continues until the picker rnechanismireaches; the ground orits' lowermost 'position' or until lever 81' is' returnedito" its normal position; T s

74: is similar to nudes valve member 931 which ras -sea through-an During the timethe manual to'automatic control valve control valves 33; j

9L4 shifted to the rightor left'as viewedin Figure l the.p ort 9 6 ,brings piping 1'12 and ll4jinto communiea tionL ;At the same tim'e movement oiffthe po rt 96- to thisjposit iori interrupts the ommunication' between-pipingsi v H and and therefore prevents the new of hydraulic fluid through the manual control: valve 74; v 1 I In the position and to 'permit'lowering of the picker mechanism. Lower the operating Theo'perafon ofthfe section 77, ofthe dualcontrol valve that -11 reinb fore de'scribed' for se g that i 'is-desiredto switch from manual to automatic" operation .for the. raising fa'ndlo'wefing of the cotton picker mechanisms; The operating lever Now let it be assumed that one of the plantlifters 22 of the right hand picker mechanism encounters a raised portion of ground. The ground will force theplant litter and the connecting -mechanism;56 upwardly'to' cause rotational movement of, the associated arm 53 or 54 and upward movement of the associated member 37 x38. to cause the operatinglever 36 to be actuated to raise the plunger 34 of the automatic control valve 33 for the right hand picker mechanism against the urging of the yieldable spring 63; .Upward movement of the member 34 continues until the piping 1071is placed in communication with piping 111 to permit hydraulic fluid under pressure to beintroduced into the right hand hydraulic ram 19'." This will cause raising-of theright hand fpicker mechanism. Raising of the picker mechanism will cause raising of the automatic control valve 33 mounted thereon. It will. be apparent that as the picker mechanism is raised that the relative position of the control valve 33 to the plant lifters will be shifted and for that reason the picker mechanism will only be lifted a distance which will permit it to pass over the raised portion of ground whichhas been encountered-by the plant lifter. As soon as the picker mechanism has been raised this distance, the same relative positions between the plant lifterand the control valve 33 will beestablished so that the port 103 will be rotated to interrupt the communication between the piping 107 and the piping 11 1 connected to the hydraulicram 19. i

It will be noted that the hydraulic fluid under pressure which .actuates the automatic control. valve '33 for the right hand picker mechanisrn'must first flow throughthe automatic control valve 33 for theleft. hand picker mech- Thus the fluid flows from the pump 68 through the piping 108, through port 105 and into'piping 107. It has been found that this piping arrangement greatly simplifies the control as hereinafter explained.

If the same plant lifter were to encounter a depression in the ground, the plunger 34 of the control valve would be lowered and the port 104 would place return piping 112 in communication with the piping 111 to permit fluid to flow from the hydraulic ram 19 into the reservoir 92 through the port 96 and piping 114. As the fluid is released from the hydraulic ram 19, because of the weight of the picker mechanism, the picker mechanism will drop. This action continues until the flow of fluid from the hydraulic ram is interrupted by movement of the port 104 to interrupt the communication between piping 111 and piping 112 or until the picker mechanism touches the ground or reaches its lowermost position.

It will be notedthat both the plant lifters 22' and 23 for each picker mechanism can control the automatic control valve 33; The arrangement is such that the plant lifter which is highest in elevation at any particular moment'controls the position (of thel'valve 33.- Thu's,- 'if one of the plant lifters should happen to drop a slight disby the plant-lifters is of generallyithe same elevation.

vIt also will be notedfthat both of the picker mechanisms cannot be raised or lowered simultaneously because thehigh pressure fluidfon actuating the right handpiclcer so er first and second vertically ad ustable picker mecha- V nisnis, a hydraulic ram connected to each of said picker are only operated when the plant lifters move upwardly or downwardly with respect to the picker mechanism.

When it isdesired to return to manual operation, it is only necessary to operate-the. manual to automatic control valve 89iwhich'places piping 91 and 92 in communication. A q

It is apparent. from thevforegoing that I have provided a new and improved picker mechanism positioning means. Although the automatic positioning means has been shown for use with a two row cotton picker, it is clear that with minormodifications the control system can also be utilized with single row as well as two row cotton pickers; For example, the piping107 for the left hand controlyvalve' 33 can. be connected directly to the control valve 89'at the point where piping 112 is attached,

and the connections to'the. other control valve 33 could be eliminated. T heconnections to the second section 7710f thediial control valve 74 could also be eliminated and a single control valve substituted therefor to provide -a systemwhich would be adapted for a single row cotton picker. 1

Although my automatic adjusting means has 'been'described-in conjunction with single acting hydraulic rams, double acting hydraulic rams may be utilized if desired.

It is alsoapparentfrom the foregoing that I have provided automatic control means which is rapid and positive operation and which does not interfere with the conventional control provided. The automatic control means can be readily adjusted and will stay in adjustment.

I claim:

1. In automatic positioning means for a cotton picker, a vertically adjustable picker mechanism, a hydraulic ram connected to said picker mechanism, means providing a source of hydraulic fiuid under pressure, manually operated control valve means connected to said source of hydraulicfluid and to said hydraulic ram, 'a pair of ground traversing shields mounted on said picker mechanism for vertical movement with respect to said picker mechanism, automatic control valve means mounted on said picker mechanism for movement with the picker mechanism and connected to said means providing a source of hydraulic fluid and g to said hydraulic ram, a mechanical'linkage connecting said automatic coning whether said picker mechanism may be raised or lowered by said manually operated control valve means or by said automatic control valve means.

2: In automatic positioning means for a cotton pickmechanisms, means providing a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure, valve'rneans mounted on each of said picker mechanismsfor movement with the picker mecha -j jnisms and connected to said means providing a source mechanismmust-flow through the automatic control valve for the leftv hand picker mechanism, This. has not been found to be objectionable because the flow of high-pressure fluid to the control valve 33 for the right hand picker automatic control valve 33. Since this raising'and lowering generally .occurs very rapidly,- the flow of highfpres- .75 h

of hydraulic fluid, means connecting the valve meansmounted on'each picker mechanism to the associated hydraulic'ram, a pair of ground traversing shieldsmounted on eachiof the pickermechanisms for vertical movement withrespect to the-picker mechanism and a mechanical linkage connecting at least one ground traversing shield .of each picker mechanism to the associated valve means to. cause operation of the associated valve means and tothereby actuate the associated hydraulic ram to ra se and lower the associated to vertical movement of said one ground traversing shield.

3. Automatic positioning means as in claim 2 wherein the hydraulic fluid under pressure applied to the valve means for the second picker mechanism first passes 1 through the valve means for the first picker mechanism. 4. In automatic positioning means for a cotton picker,

' first and'second vertically adjustable picker mechanisms, a hydraulic ram connected to each of said picker mechanisms, means providing a source ofhydraulic fluid under pressure, manuallyop'erated valve control means connected to said source of hydraulic fluid and to said hyhydraulic rams, ground traversing means mounted on each of said picker mechanism for vertical movement with respect to said picker mechanisms, automatic control valve means mounted on' each of said picker mechanisms for movement with the picker mechanisms, means connecting each of said automatic controlvalv'e means picker mechanism is res onse to said means providing a source'of hydraulic fluid'and to the associated hydraulic ram, means connecting each of the automatic control valve means to the "associated ground traversing means whereby as said groundtraversing means is moved vertically, the associated hydraulic ram will be operated to causeiraising and lowering of the associated picker mechanism, and manual to automatic control valve, means connected to the manually operated control valve meansand to each of said automatic control valve means whereby said picker mechanisms may be raised or lowered by said manually operated valve control meansor'by said automatic'valve control means. I

5. Automatic positioning means as in claim 4 wherein the automatic control valve means for the second picker mechanism is connected to the automatic controlvalve means mountedon the first picker mechanism.

*6. In automatic positioning means for a cotton picker, a vertically adjustable picker mechanism, meansfor adjusting th'e vertical positidn ofithe' picker mechanism with respect "to the ground-comprising a hydraulic ram connected to said picker mechanism; means providing a source of hydraulic'fiuid under pressureg valve means mounted on said picker mechanism for movement with-the picker mechanismand connected to said source of hydraulic fluid and said ram, a pair of ground traversing-shields mounted on said picker mechanism for 'vertical'movement with respect to said picker mechanism, means connected to said valve means and to at least one of said shields tooperate said valve means and=t o' thereby cause actuation of said ram tov raise and lower said picker mechanism. in response 'to vertical movement of the ground traversing means, andadditional'control valve means connected to the means providing the source of hydraulic fluid andto the ram so that the picker mechanism may be raised and lowered as said additional control valve-means is operated; valvemeans connected to said first named valve and said additional valve means I to permit the control of the raising and lowering of said picker mechanism by said firstnamed valve means or said additionalvalve means.

References Cited in the file of this patent I v UNITED STATES PATENTS I 2,660,015

Briscoe Nov. '24,. 1953 2,674,075 Snow Apr. 6, 1954 1,700,857 Stearman Feb. '1, 1955 

